• Dear Lowell Parent or Guardian,

    I’m writing with information about this spring’s Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) and Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) tests, which Grade 3-5 students will take in May. Each grade level will have three days of testing in English language arts (ELA) and two days in math. Fifth-graders will also take the one-day science test. The schedule is below; please mark your calendars. Although we can provide make-up testing due to illness or emergency, we ask that students be on time each day, and that you avoid scheduling medical appointments or other absences on testing days. When students have to take make-up tests, they miss regular class time. As a reminder, students are not allowed to have access to cell phones and smart watches during testing, per state guidelines.

    Testing schedule

    It’s important to keep these tests in perspective. They are an important snapshot of how students are doing in relation to standards. However, they are just one of many measures we use to plan how to help those who are struggling, and challenge those who are ready. We assess students all the time – whether informally, though observations and day-to-day student work, or formally, such as on unit tests.

    Although these tests are important, they should not be a source of anxiety for students. By teaching our district-adopted curriculum, which is aligned to the standards, and by helping students learn the format of the tests and how to use Chromebooks, our teachers ensure that students will feel ready!

    More info on testing is at  https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/testing.

    Sincerely,

    Victoria Dowdy, assistant principal